Missouri Bankruptcy Records
Missouri bankruptcy records are filed and stored through two federal court districts that cover the whole state. The Western District in Kansas City and the Eastern District in St. Louis each hold case files for Chapter 7, Chapter 13, and Chapter 11 filings. You can search these bankruptcy records through PACER, the federal electronic records system, or by phone using the Voice Case Information System at 1-866-222-8029. Missouri recorded 9,482 total bankruptcy filings in 2023 alone. Each of the state's 114 counties falls under one of these two districts, and the Circuit Clerk in each county seat can point you to related state court records that may tie into a bankruptcy case.
Missouri Bankruptcy Records Quick Facts
Where to Find Missouri Bankruptcy Records
Bankruptcy is a federal legal process. That means Missouri bankruptcy records live in the federal court system, not at the county level. The state is split into two districts. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Missouri sits at the Charles Evans Whittaker U.S. Courthouse, 400 E. 9th Street, Kansas City, MO 64106. You can reach them at 816-512-1800 during business hours from 10:00 AM to 3:45 PM, Monday through Friday. The Western District handles all bankruptcy filings for counties in the western half of the state, including cases filed in Kansas City, Springfield, and Jefferson City.
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Missouri has its main office at the Thomas F. Eagleton U.S. Courthouse, 111 South 10th Street, 4th Floor, St. Louis, MO 63102. Public office hours run Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The Clerk's Office phone is (314) 244-4500. The Eastern District keeps three divisions: the Eastern Division in St. Louis, the Southeastern Division in Cape Girardeau at the Rush Hudson Limbaugh Sr. U.S. Courthouse, and the Northern Division in Hannibal.
Both courts handle Chapter 7 liquidation cases, Chapter 11 reorganization cases, Chapter 12 family farmer cases, and Chapter 13 wage earner repayment plans. The Western District allows in-person filing at the Kansas City Courthouse. For urgent situations, cases can be filed in Springfield and Jefferson City clerk offices if you get prior approval from the Kansas City Bankruptcy Clerk's office first. A drop box in the Kansas City Courthouse lobby accepts documents until 6:00 PM.
Search Missouri Bankruptcy Records Online
PACER is the main way to search Missouri bankruptcy records from your computer. It stands for Public Access to Court Electronic Records. The system lets you pull up case and docket information from both the Eastern and Western District Bankruptcy Courts. PACER charges $0.10 per page for viewing or printing, with a cap of $2.40 per document. If your total usage stays under $15 in a quarter, the fees get waived. You can register for an account by calling the PACER Service Center at 1-800-676-6856.
The Missouri Case.net system gives you free access to state court records that may relate to a bankruptcy filing. While Case.net does not show federal bankruptcy cases directly, it can help you find civil judgments, liens, and other state court matters tied to a debtor. You can search by party name, case number, or filing date. The Track This Case feature sends email or text alerts when case updates happen. Case.net data goes back to the mid-1990s.
The Multi-Court Voice Case Information System, or McVCIS, is another way to look up basic Missouri bankruptcy records. Call 1-866-222-8029 any time, day or night. The automated system gives you the case number, filing date, chapter type, attorney name, assigned judge, trustee, case status, 341 meeting date, and closing date. Cases closed before October 1995 in the Western District are not on the phone system.
Missouri Bankruptcy Filing Fees and Costs
The filing fees for Missouri bankruptcy cases depend on the chapter. Chapter 7 costs $338.00 to file. Chapter 13 costs $313.00. Chapter 11 cases cost $1,738.00. These are federal court fees and apply to both the Eastern and Western Districts.
Getting copies of existing bankruptcy records has its own fee schedule. Copy fees run $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost $12 plus the per-page copy fee. A record search costs $34 per name or item searched. Fee waivers are available for low-income Chapter 7 filers who can show financial hardship. The court reviews each waiver request on a case-by-case basis.
Bankruptcy Records and Missouri Exemptions
Missouri has opted out of the federal bankruptcy exemption scheme. That means state law controls what property you can keep in a bankruptcy case. Under RSMO 513.430, the Missouri Homestead Exemption protects up to $15,000 in real estate or $5,000 in a mobile home. The Motor Vehicle Exemption covers up to $3,000 of equity in a car. These exemption amounts show up in bankruptcy records as part of the schedules filed with the court.
The Wildcard Exemption lets single filers protect up to $600 of any property type. Heads of household can claim an extra $1,250 plus $350 for each child. Personal property exemptions include up to $3,000 in household goods, $1,500 for wedding rings, and $1,500 for firearms. Retirement accounts and public benefits are largely shielded from creditors in Missouri bankruptcy cases. Every one of these exemptions gets listed in the bankruptcy records filed with the court.
Missouri Bankruptcy Records and Means Testing
Before filing Chapter 7, Missouri residents must pass a means test. This test compares your income to the state median income figures published by the U.S. Trustee. If you make more than the median, you may still qualify, but the court will look more closely at your expenses and disposable income. Debtors who do not pass the means test can file Chapter 13 instead. Disabled veterans are exempt from means testing entirely.
The U.S. Trustee's Office for the Eastern District is at 111 S. Tenth Street, Suite 6350, St. Louis, MO 63102, phone (314) 539-2976. The Program watches over bankruptcy case administration, monitors for fraud, and appoints private trustees. All credit counseling agencies used before filing must be approved by the U.S. Trustee Program.
Chapter 13 Trustees in Missouri Bankruptcy Records
Missouri Chapter 13 bankruptcy records involve standing trustees who collect payments and send them to creditors. Richard V. Fink serves as Chapter 13 Standing Trustee for the Western District. His office is at 818 Grand Blvd., Ste. 800, Kansas City, MO 64106, phone (816) 842-1031. Diana S. Daugherty serves as Chapter 13 Trustee for the Eastern District at P.O. Box 430908, St. Louis, MO 63143.
Trustees collect monthly payments from debtors and distribute the funds according to confirmed repayment plans. The trustee's name and contact information appear in the bankruptcy records for every Chapter 13 case. If you are searching for details on a specific repayment plan, the trustee's office can provide information about payment status and distributions to creditors.
Missouri Bankruptcy Records Local Rules
The Local Rules for Missouri Bankruptcy became effective December 4, 2024. They cover case assignments, notice requirements, attorney fees, and motion practice. General Orders address judge assignments, small business provisions, and Chapter 13 procedures. Paper documents filed by pro se debtors in the Western District must contain original signatures.
Historical Missouri Bankruptcy Records
Older Missouri bankruptcy records are stored at the National Archives at Kansas City. The facility holds about 125,000 cubic feet of bankruptcy case files from federal courts. For cases filed in 1940 and after, you need a Federal Records Center transfer number to request files. Send requests by email to kansascity.archives@nara.gov or call 816.268.8000.
The Western District also maintains a Federal Records Center page with guidance on how to retrieve older bankruptcy case files that have been transferred from the court to storage. Cases that have been closed for a certain number of years get moved to the Federal Records Center. You will need the case number or transfer number to request these records.
Legal Help with Missouri Bankruptcy Records
Legal Services of Missouri provides free legal assistance to low-income individuals who need help with bankruptcy. The Missouri Bar offers a free Lawyer Search at MissouriLawyersHelp.org. BAMSL sponsors a Pro Se Assistance Program with free 30-minute consultations for people who want to handle their own case. Court employees cannot give legal advice about bankruptcy records or the filing process.
Missouri bankruptcy statistics show the filing trends over time. In 2023, the state had 4,970 Chapter 7 cases, 35 Chapter 11 cases, and 4,471 Chapter 13 cases. Business bankruptcy filings totaled 125. The historical peak was 33,297 filings in 2010. Missouri's filing rate has generally tracked within 25% of the national average. These numbers come from the American Bankruptcy Institute's state filing trends data.
Browse Missouri Bankruptcy Records by County
Each Missouri county falls under either the Eastern or Western District Bankruptcy Court. Pick a county below to find which district handles filings in that area, along with local court contact information and resources.
Bankruptcy Records in Major Missouri Cities
Residents of Missouri cities file for bankruptcy at the federal court based on their county location. Select a city below to learn which district handles bankruptcy records for that area.